Volume One, Chapter Twelve: The Guilty Party Strikes First

In the study, Murong Yunyi was attending to official documents. Lady Su entered, her eyes swollen with tears, and knelt before him, crying out, “Your Highness, you must give me justice…”

Murong Yunyi put down his paperwork and looked at Lady Su, who was kneeling in the outer chamber. His brows furrowed slightly. “What has happened?”

Lady Su embellished her account, painting herself as a wronged and fragile woman, while Lin Wantai was cast as a domineering, insolent shrew. After listening to Lady Su’s complaints, Murong Yunyi’s expression grew dark. He recalled Lin Wantai’s actions in the pharmacy and a flicker of suspicion arose within him.

He dismissed Lady Su’s maids with a wave, his gaze deep and probing as he addressed Lady Su, “Are you certain every word you’ve spoken is true?”

Lady Su nodded fervently, weeping all the harder, “Every word is true. If I have uttered a single falsehood, may thunder strike me down!”

Just then, Lin Wantai walked in.

How ironic—the villain complains first.

Her demeanor was calm, her gaze steady, showing not the slightest hint of guilt or remorse.

Murong Yunyi looked at Lin Wantai, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes. “Princess, you’re here. Come forward…”

Lin Wantai stepped closer, entering the inner chamber before offering a respectful salute, her tone serene. “Your Highness.”

She did not spare Lady Su so much as a glance, as if the woman did not exist. Lady Su could have ground her teeth to dust.

That wretched woman strode openly to Murong Yunyi’s side! After a year in the palace, Lady Su had never been allowed within three feet of him! Even Qiushuang was relegated to serving outside the study!

To Lady Su, this was nothing short of a provocation. She bit her lip, tears rolling down her cheeks, making her seem all the more pitiable.

“Princess, Lady Su claims you insulted her. Is there any truth to this?”

Murong Yunyi’s voice revealed neither favor nor anger, his penetrating gaze fixed on Lin Wantai, as though seeking to see through her.

A faint, unhurried smile curved Lin Wantai’s lips as she replied, neither humble nor arrogant, “Your Highness, you know me well. I have never insulted Lady Su. Today, I went to the pharmacy to consult medical texts, but Lady Su’s maid deliberately knocked the book from my hands. Lady Su then scolded her maid, accusing me of lacking manners and disrespecting her. I merely argued my case; where is the insult in that?”

Lady Su immediately cried out, “Your Highness, listen to her—she continues to quibble! She blatantly disregards me, deliberately making things difficult for my maid!”

“That maid is timid—she was so frightened by the Princess she trembled all over. I only said a few words to her, and then she…”

“Lady Su.”

Lin Wantai interrupted, her tone still calm but carrying a hint of undeniable authority. “You claim your maid is timid, yet why did she dare knock the medical book from my hands? If it wasn’t intentional, how could it be such a coincidence? Moreover, I noticed that before she struck, her gaze lingered on you, as if awaiting your signal. It seems she was acting under someone’s instruction, wouldn’t you agree?”

Lin Wantai’s words left Lady Su’s face pale and then flushed. She had not expected Lin Wantai to observe such minute details. Opening her mouth to retort, she found herself at a loss for words.

Murong Yunyi took in the expressions of both women, yet made no judgment. He simply waved his hand dismissively. “Enough. You may both leave. I am weary.”

Lady Su was unwilling, but dared not protest further. She shot Lin Wantai a venomous glare before rising and withdrawing.

Lin Wantai offered a brief salute and turned to leave. As she passed Lady Su, she paused, murmuring quietly enough that only the two could hear, “Lady Su, let me offer you a word of advice. Rather than wasting your energies on petty tricks, you’d do better to consider how to serve your lord. Perhaps then you’ll be allowed into the inner chamber.”

Lady Su’s body stiffened, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes. She had not expected Lin Wantai to provoke her so openly. She swore to herself that Lin Wantai would pay dearly.

Returning to her own courtyard, Lin Wantai felt anything but relieved. She knew today’s incident was merely a test from Lady Su. Lady Su would not let matters rest; her position in the prince’s residence would only become more precarious.

She had to cure Murong Yunyi’s illness as soon as possible.

Late at night, Lin Wantai stood by the window, gazing into the pitch-black sky, her mind awash with thoughts.

Suddenly, she heard faint footsteps. Spinning around, she glimpsed a shadow flicker past…

The shadow vanished in an instant, and Lin Wantai’s senses sharpened. She held her breath, listening intently for any anomaly, but heard nothing more.

Was it merely her imagination?

Lin Wantai felt uncertain, but years of training as a covert agent warned her never to let her guard down. Quietly, she retrieved a dagger from the hidden compartment in her bracelet, gripping it tightly. She crept to the door and flung it open.

Outside, not a soul was in sight; only the cold moonlight spilled across the courtyard, lending an air of solitude.

Lin Wantai scanned the surroundings, finding nothing suspicious.

She slowly closed the door, her unease deepening. If someone truly was watching her from the shadows, their martial skill must be formidable to disappear so thoroughly under her watch.

Returning to her room, Lin Wantai carefully checked the doors and windows for any signs of tampering. Finding none, she allowed herself a measure of relief.

She knew that in the prince’s residence, she would have to remain vigilant at all times to ensure her own safety.

Drawing a deep breath, Lin Wantai steadied herself. Murong Yunyi’s illness was her greatest bargaining chip—but his condition was complicated, and she needed more time to investigate.

Earlier in the pharmacy, though she appeared calm, she had already covertly assessed the prince’s stock of medicinal herbs. She discovered that while the collection was comprehensive, several key ingredients were missing.

Clearly, she would have to find a way to procure these medicines before she could formulate a cure for Murong Yunyi.

Lin Wantai walked to the table and lit an oil lamp. The dim, golden light illuminated the room and her somewhat weary face.

From her sleeve, she drew a sheet of paper—the preliminary treatment plan she had devised based on Murong Yunyi’s symptoms.

Staring at the paper, she frowned deeply.

Murong Yunyi’s ailment was not only physical; it seemed to stem from the heart as well. His gaze was always tinged with gloom and indifference, as if nothing could stir him.

To truly heal him, medicine would not suffice—he would need guidance for his mind. But how to unlock the barriers around his heart remained an enigma.

Lin Wantai sighed softly and set the paper aside. She went to the window, gazing once more at the night sky.

The darkness was as deep as her mood.

Suddenly, there came a faint knocking at the door.

Lin Wantai’s heart lurched, and she tightened her grip on the dagger.